Episode 4 - Chapter 15: Reunion

K-H

I couldn't describe the anger I felt!

Suleiman treated his bandits and the women he had kidnapped horribly and whenever I got the chance, I'd try and help them escape. But to put an innocent child through the same thing - that was too far! This, along with the fact that I knew Libby since she was 12 years old, pretty much served as a punch in the face to tell me that Crane was right. The Tower was a better place to go and if I could, I'd take Karim and the women with me.

Only, how am I going to do that without getting ourselves killed?

"Ah, Henry," Rais lamented as I aggressively broke free from the two goons who restrained me. "My intuition tells me that you know the child on a personal level. How long have you known her, exactly?"

"Why?!" I scowled, earning an amused smirk from my Boss.

"Intrigue," The man answered, dangerously pointing his rifle at me. I'm going to get killed if I don't answer, aren't I? F*ck!

Knowing this, I ultimately gave up. "5 years,"

"I see," Rais replied calmly, advancing towards me. "In that case, I have an opportunity for you,"

Oh no!

"Join the Tower and when the moment is right, bring the child to me," My Boss ordered, glaring with authority. "There will be consequences if you don't,"

"You'll kill her?" I demanded, feeling terrified for Libby's well being. I can't f*cking do this!

"You'll see," Rais simply responded before walking off, leaving me in a state of shock, panic and guilt over the situation I was now forced into and had no choice to bail out of. I... I can't believe I have to do this!

Libby, I'm so sorry!

H-K

"Crane here," I sighed into my radio after I ascended onto the train car outside the Fortress.

"Report," My Boss ordered on the other end.

"I'm no longer co-operating with Rais," I explained tiredly, still feeling concerned for Libby. At least, she's en route back to the Tower. "He wanted me to kidnap a little girl and dump her with him so he could make her fight in his pit,"

"Yes, and... was that it?"

"What the hell do you mean, was that it?!" I growled fiercely. "I'm not a f*cking child trafficker!"

"You seem to have forgotten how much is riding on this file, Crane," The woman snarled. "If Rais wants one child, then give her to him. You'll be there to keep an eye on her, won't you?"

You. F*cking. B*tch!

"W-What the? How can you—" I stammered with boiling fury. "What the f*ck kind of humanitarian outfit are you guys?! And for that matter, if this project file can save the world, why keep it a f*cking secret?!"

"We're not paying you to be insubordinate, Crane! GET THIS DONE!"

"Oh, f*ck you b*tch!" I yelled, switching my radio off in a blind rage. I couldn't describe how furious I was at Rais and my Boss for not giving a sh*t about an innocent kid's welfare, so much so that I didn't realise that I was violently trembling. Hold it together, buddy. You did the right thing by not handing her over. She's safe.

F*ck, I'm becoming Jade, aren't I?!

"Crane, can you hear me?!" A familiar voice spoke frantically through the other end of my radio. Speaking of...

"I copy Jade, go ahead," I responded calmly, descending the train car and beginning the trek back to the Tower. F*cking finally!

Upon hearing my voice, Jade gasped with sheer relief. What the?! "It's good to hear you're still in one piece! Libby's back at the Tower and she told me everything. Thank you for not handing her over to Rais, truly,"

"I wasn't gonna let anything happen to her," I responded, relieved that she had beaten me back there. Why are you so relieved to hear I'm okay, though?

"I know you wouldn't," Jade agreed. "Listen, we have a situation here which I know Brecken's already made you aware of and if you have a spare moment when you get back, we need to talk,"

"Okay, sure,"

"I'm waiting by the elevator on Floor 19,"

What am I about to witness, then?

(Floor 19 in The Tower, The Slums, Harran, Turkey, The Middle East, Europe - 10:51...)

Once I re-emerged in the sanctuary that saved my *ss, I felt like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders and I imagined Libby must have felt the same when she got here. I should probably check in on her whenever she's free. One boarding the elevator and riding to Floor 19 later, low and behold I find Jade.

"Do you have the Antizin? Give me to me!" She ordered, prompting me to hand the five vials over.

"So, what happened?" I questioned worriedly.

"One person turned, and had a couple of other people trapped," The woman began explaining. "We could have sealed off that one apartment but... Brecken wanted to save as many lives as possible," As anyone would. "It went bad, somebody had to make the call and now, we've lost the entire floor, including... including a couple of kids,"

Jade had turned away sadly for a split second before she composed herself and left me be. "You better talk to Brecken, I have to get these meds to Lena,"

"O-Okay," I stammered quickly. "I'll talk to you in a moment?"

"Of course,"

Looking forward to it.

With that, I followed her footsteps and took a left into the headquarters where I found Brecken staring at the TV ... which was now emitting static. Oh god, what the f*ck did the GRE do?

"This is where we hear news about the Antizin drops," Brecken told me sadly, having sensed my presence. "And they just stopped,"

Oh f*ck!

"There were KIDS IN THERE!" My friend screamed in a blind rage, violently beating the TV with his bare fists which influenced me to lunge forward and grab him - pulling him back whilst shouting: "Easy, buddy! Easy!"

"I froze," Brecken confessed, his voice cracking with guilt as he pulled himself out of my grasp. "Lena had to step up, maybe she should be in charge! What the f*ck, Crane?! I'm no leader, I'm a goddamn parkour instructor!"

"So, all the free running... That was you?!" I asked with surprise, feeling bad for the guy. "Brecken, you showed these people how to survive!"

"Do you know what my pockets were full of when I showed up in Harran?" The Tower's leader shot back. "F*cking business cards! I was hoping to drum up some more students; maybe save enough money so I could buy a house - instead of that poxy little flat I've been renting!"

He then turned with a statement that rung pretty much three alarm bells. "Look, I'm going to talk to Rais myself,"

Oooh, I don't think that would be the best idea.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, hang on a minute," I butted in with concern. "Brecken, these people still need you here. Just... Just give me some time, alright? We can sort this out in a better way, there has to be one at least,"

Hearing this, my friend took a moment to think this over and responded with a desperate "Fine, I'll wait. But not for long, you hear me?"

"Yeah, I hear you," I reassured him bravely.

Finally, I get to do some more good for the Tower!